All posts by jb38
Below are all of jb38's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
graham: Yes, provided that you don't cancel your Sky subscription, as Sky will disable your ability to access the recording / playback side of the box if you do.
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jayne froggatt : The coverage map for Sheffields local (LS) Multiplex shows Wincobank as being outside the coverage area for this transmitter, the signal from same "in your direction" not quite reaching the Newhall area let alone Wincobank.
That said, coverage maps are not by any means 100% accurate, likewise can only really be used for reference purposes, therefore, if your TV or box offers a "manual" tuning facility? enter Sheffield's local Mux C55 (746.0 Mhz) into the box but pause at this point, (i.e: do "not" press search or scan) because if any trace of a signal is being received nomatter how low, the strength / quality level will be seen on the indicator bars.
It should though be appreciated, that Sheffield's LS Mux C55 is an extremely low powered transmitter which is beamed to cover the main and Southern areas of Sheffield, with a very limited spillage to the Northern areas of the city, such as you happen to reside in.
By the way, do you have your own aerial? or are you connected into a communal distribution system?
The other point being, guide number 81 cannot be used for reference purposes, as its broadcast on the COM7 transmitter which is twice the power of the LS Mux.
Further advice dependant on feedback.
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c fenton: Are the boxes referred to all of the same brand / model number?, as although that mentioned is not exactly unheard of, its nearly always associated with devices of the same brand, software updates (if available) usually rectifying the problem.
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Annette Barnes : A post code is really required for queries of this nature, however, on the assumption that you normally receive ITV from Winter Hill's PSB2 transmitter on Mux C59, due to a number of adverse reception reports from said station, your retune has possibly picked up ITV from Wenvoe on Mux C44, the source of ITV Wales.
Although "manually" tuning in each of the 12 Mux channels used by Winter Hill is a guaranteed way of resolving the problem, your best policy would be to try carrying out a further few retunes in the hope that the problem would correct itself during one of them.
If though it doesn't, then Winter Hills Mux channels are as follows/
C50 (BBC) / C59 (ITV) / C54 (PSB2 HD) /C58 (ITV3 etc) / C49 (COM5) / C55 (COM6) / C31 (COM7) / C37 (COM8) / C56 (LM-LL-LPR) / C57 (GIM)
Dependant on location, you may not receive C56 or C57.
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Annette Barnes : Correction. On the latter list of channels, C54 is PSB3 HD, not PSB2.
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Nick Burleigh : If reception is indeed affected by windy weather, then this strongly suggests that the signal path from the transmitter passes near to tree lined areas, as Freeview signals as such are not affected by high winds, that is unless said winds result in the occurrence of some form of obstruction to the signal
However, an assessment of the situation is not really possible without knowledge of the area in question, this preferably provided in the form of a post code or one from nearby, i.e: a shop / Post Office, this info enabling access to details of the transmitter, and also the terrain applicable to the area the transmitter is covering.
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Barney: I would try the "shipping condition" reset, as this is about the only way of overcoming any glitches that may have occurred in the tuner in this particular model.
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Nick Burleigh: Thanks for your reply / update on the situation, the comprehensive nature of having enabled me to carry out a number of checks based on the various post codes given, which has enlightened me as to the nature of the terrain in question, but though one which I feel could well be bit of a nightmare for aerial installers trying to obtain a satisfactory (and consistently stable) signal in a number of the postal code areas mentioned.
As far as signal break up during windy (or possibly other) conditions is concerned, although tests may well have been carried out by the aerial installer at a number of households affected by the problem, however the only way that the actual transmission source can be positively identified as being the reason for same (such as possibly by an iffy feeder to mast connection) is by a non-household based (to avoid possible interference) signal test being carried out using a portable test aerial (e.g: Log periodic in conjunction with a professional signal test meter) at some location where a completely unobstructed "full view" of the TX mast (and slightly under) can be seen.
That said, after having comprehensively studied the location (via Google earth etc) of a number of the properties in question, I'm still inclined to feel that the more likely reason for the problem is connected with that mentioned in my original reply, insomuch, obstruction in the form of trees (or tops of) being blown by the wind,
My reason for thinking along these lines being based on the fact that in many of the postal code areas referred to, the signal is being received at a very low angle in relation to that of the mast due to extremely steep gradient that many of the houses are built on, signals received in a number of properties via skipping across the rooftops of a series of relatively close stacked properties above them, the fact of the mast being so close to the steep gradient making the situation worse.
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Paul : The actual strength of a signal is not necessarily always affected during problems with reception, albeit that the quality of can be jumping all over the place, as it all depends on the reason for the problem.
One example being the recent reception problems suffered by many (including myself) residing from the Midlands downwards during the spell of high pressure that swept across the area, some channels indicating zero or very low quality whilst at the same time the signal strength was indicating normal, the peculiar thing being, that although the main HD Mux indicated zero on both triggering a "no signal" warning, the much lower powered secondary HD Muxes were little affected by the problem.
As far as your particular problem is concerned, the signal path from the Sandy Heath transmitter is shown on the terrain indicator to suffer from a line-of-sight blockage at approximately 1 mile, stretching down to 0.5 of a mile prior to your location, although the signal quality could possibly be affected from as far as 5 miles out.
Reception in circumstances such as this can be very variable at different times of the year, and indeed affecting some Mux channels more than others. Sometimes moving the aerial to a slightly different position can partially overcome the problem, at least for a time anyway!, but though, this is not really a practical thing to do for most people, that is apart from the time taken to reach a reasonable balance between each of the Mux channels used by a main transmitter.
By the way, a lower intensity level of the high pressure referred to is presently sweeping across the same area of the UK again, although this is indicated as clearing the UK in the early hours of the morning.
If you wish, you can view the terrain indications referred to by opening the undermentioned link.
Terrain between ( m a.g.l.) and (antenna m a.g.l.) - Optimising UK DTT Freeview and Radio aerial location
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Sunday 8 November 2015 11:50PM
lucille blackman: If your dish is facing into trees or other vegetation located nearby? then this is liable to be the cause of the problem, if though this doesn't apply, then the high winds referred to has possibly moved the dish slightly out of alignment.
Go into the menu of whatever box you are using and select the signal check screen, the strength and quality indicated (if any) having to be around 60% minimum for satisfactory reception, if though the quality indicated is less than the strength, then this points to the dish being slightly out of alignment, something which is usually always in the horizontal (left/right) plane where winds are involved, a slight nudge on the appropriate side of the dish (whilst viewing the signal check screen) usually resolving the problem.
Further advice dependant of feedback.